The collection provides a wide variety of color and weight choices for all your quilting pleasures.

The 50Wt thread is perfect for your bobbin; matter of fact, I choose color #2312 because it's a perfect neutral tone, and when used in the bobbin, will complement a number of different top thread colors.

50Wt #2312 is also great for a variety of hand applique techniques. It blends perfectly with neutral backgrounds and melts right into earthen tone applique pieces.

My other 50Wt color choice was #2000 --- Oh to use this color and weight on muslin colored fabric is like heaven. It's my go-to color for background quilting many of my wool pieces.

Wooly Wren by Karen L. Miller ~ Redbird Quilt Co

While we're talking about wool applique -- the 12Wt thread in the collection is PERFECT for wool applique and big stitch quilting. Selecting subtle colors (#6722, #6723) allows them to be used in a variety of projects. Stay tuned for some fun project shares with these colors.

On the image below I had fun making the flower embellishments by crocheting with Aurifil 12Wt thread:

The 40Wt and 28Wt threads are perfect when you want the thread to take center stage. They're heavy enough machine quilt with them - and soft and pliable so that hand work is fun too!

I couldn't be more excited about this collection.

Stay tuned as I share more information, inspiration and tutorials using The Subtle Sampler.

Below you'll find a helpful reference sheet for The Subtle Sampler.
I've outlined a variety of uses for each weight of thread, needle sizes, bobbin weights and tension adjustments.
I hope you find it handy to have in your Quilty toolkit.
You can download and print the PDF from here.

Would you like to purchase The Subtle Sampler?

Look for it in your local quilt shop -- ask for it by name, and I'm sure they'll order it for you.

In the meantime I too can sell the collection. If you can't find it locally, feel free to email me for more information.

Note: The FTC requires that I tell you.... I occasionally use affiliate links on my blog and website. I may be compensated for purchases made using the links. Rest assured I will only share sales and promotions for products I know and love myself. Many thanks for your support of my very small business.

So awesome Karen! I’m so excited to get this as I can’t find anyone locally that will even order 40wt or 28wt for me! I have used 12wr on some embroidery and I use 50wt with piecing and quilting. My last project I used #2000 and LOVED it! Think this will be one of my favs! Thanks much for all you do!

I'm new to FMQ and haven't had a chance to try Aurifil, yet. To date I've just been playing around on scrap fabric, practicing making feathers, swirls, pebbles...you know, creating a consistency to my designs. I have so far to go, and can't wait to branch out to my first project, which will be a panel. I plan to place my first order for Aurifil to do that panel with, and I'm using some of your panel projects as inspiration!

Congratulations Karen! This is so very cool! So per your love for Aurifil I ordered my first spool kit of 50wt. nutrals but haven't got to use it yet. I can't wait. Would love to add some color for sure, soon hopefully. Blessings❤️

Congratulations and well deserved! I have admired your beautiful quilting for years. I have used the 50wt for the last year or so for piecing and quilting, but my 40wt is still waiting to be used. I haven't finished piecing the one I will use it on.

I always use the 50 wt for piecing. I will try to 12 for some top-stitching next time I do that. Thanks for the great information about how to use them. Your collection is beautiful! hrglover at hotmail dot com

I love Aurifil thread and love your thread collection with the different weights of thread! I really like the explanations of where you used them and how you did. I've used 50, 40 and I also have 80 to try on a quail project from a class that I took recently. I love the fact that there is very little lint and it's strong thread plus the colors are to dye for :-) Your blog and posts on Facebook are really helpful - so thank you!

I love your quilting! I am trying to make mine look as good as yours. I love quilting with multiple sizes of thread. I have used Aurifil 12 for hand embroidery. I am fortunate to have 4 quilt shops within 15 minutes from home, but none of them sells Auriful so my thread stash doesn't include many. I'd love to win your sampler!!!

Whoa... never realized the difference the weight of thread could make on machine quilting. I normally use Aurifil monofilament thread on the top and Aurifil 50 wt (orange cone) in the bobbin. I also use the orange cone for piecing. Haven't tried the other weights but am anxious to do so. Thanks for all the information you provided. Have printed your thread guide and will keep it handy. Terry

I have used 50 weight Aurifil thread in all of my projects. I have one spool of 40 weight that I have tried, but have never tried any of the other weights. I would love to try all of them to see how they look on fabric. Thank you for the giveaway.

Hiya!!! What a lovely collection. I've not had the opportunity to try Aurifil yet, but really want to try it soon. I would probably use a lot of 50wt. Thank you for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!!pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

I've only had the opportunity to buy 50 wt. Aurifil thread and have used it for piecing and quilting. I'm so glad Aurifil did a post on you, I love finding new quilters and quilt blogs. Your quilting it beyond beautiful, I can only dream of accomplishing quilting on your level. At best I'm herky, jerky! ;-> Toni Anne

Congrats Karen on your very own Aurafil Collection! What beautiful colors you've chosen also. I've only used the 50wt Aurafil so far, but am anxious to try out the 12wt for decorative stitching. Like your idea of crocheting 12wt to add 3 dimensional effects.

Oh, Karen, this is *SO* exciting! Congratulations on making it to the Big Time in the thread world :)

I mostly use 50 wt Aurifil, and have just recently purchased some 40 wt. I've also used their invisible monofilament in both light and dark, and am still figuring out how to get the tension right on that. Always learning!

Congrats Karen on your own line of Aurifil threads. What a well deserved honor! I have only used 50 wt Aurifil thread for piecing and quilting but would love to try the others in your collection. You are such an inspiration and so generous to share your knowledge with everyone. Thank you for the chance to expand my knowledge.

I have used primarily 50 wt Aurifil on my quilts. I like that if I have to back track on some previous quilting it doesn't show as much. I like that it gives texture to my piece with out it being the stand out star of the quilt. And for those reasons, I have been timid to use the heavier weights.

Hello Karen, Mostly 50 wt for piecing, and 40 wt for my attempts at free motion...it's such a beautiful thread period, never breaks and so versitile. My favorite neutral color is lt grey, #2600. I do have a few 28 wt spools awaiting me, will try those soon. Thank you for your inspiration and the Zoe the Giraffe is too cute. Fabulous quilting too:)schimmel(dot)db(at)gmail(dot)com

Karen your sampler sounds wonderful. I would love to try the different weights and your colors look lovely. Right now I have nothing but 50wt Aurifil but am wanting to try other weights also. This sounds perfect. My machine and I love Aurifil, any thread I buy now is always Aurifil.

The very first quilt I quilted on my domestic machine was a queen-sized flannel quilt, and I used a 12 wt. Not because I knew any better, but because it matched, lol! I loved it though! It was perfect for the straight-line stitching I did on the flannel. Now I use a 50 wt most of the time for piecing, and sometimes 40 wt. I have yet to use the 28 wt though. Love your collection, btw! And congratulations!!!

I use the 50 wt for piecing and have my quilts quilted with 40 wt because I like the quilting design to stand out. I have some Aurifloss for embroidery but haven't made anything with it yet. Thank you for the opportunity to win! ljbisme at msn dot com

I have used 50 wt for hand applique, piecing and my adventures in machine quilting. I'm a newbie and I love seeing your work! I tried 12 wt after taking a class from Susan Cleveland (best class ever!) and found it easy to use in the machine with the right needle. Also, have used the 12 for embroidery. Your colors are fabulous and fit perfectly with my stash. Thanks for all you have taught me through your blog. You are an inspiration!

Your work is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing it. And thanks for all the information about thread weights! I have not used anything but Aurifil 50 wt, and now my head is spinning with new possibilities. How wonderful to have these different thread weights in the same handy collection! This collection is a winner for sure!

I just love your free motion quilting. So far I have only used the 50 wt. aurifil thread. I love using it. Would love to try the other weights. I'm still learning and took one of your classes. I try to practice a few times a week, and doodling on paper. Would love to try the other weights. Your Collection is awesome!!

I use 50 weight for everything! In my machine, stitching hexies and also forAppliqué. I really like this thread and the fact that sheds hardly any lint. Your collection is lovely and I’d really like to try some different weights.

I love Aurifil too....I've only used the 50 weight for piecing and for quilting on my domestic machine. It's absolutely wonderful---no lint, fine and thin---perfect for piecing and pressing! I started using Aurifil on Wendy's advice as well.....

I use 50 the most, but have some of all of them. I'm trying to find more reasons to use 12. Also I love that your bird pillows at the top are fabric I have, it helps so much to see how it's transformed!

I use the 50 wt a lot and am also a big fan of Wendy Shepard so have all her "Subtle Contrast" colors in my thread stock. I've tried the 60 wt bobbin thread and have a stash of Lana Wool threads that I like to use for wool applique.

So thrilled for you, Karen! Saw that you will be in Houston with Aurifil. Very exciting. I can hardly wait to get this collection of threads and do the Splendid Sampler. Whoo-hoo! In the past I stayed away from Aurifil because it is a little more costly. Silly me! When I used it the first time I was hooked. I have used 50 wt for piecing and quilting and 12 wt for hand embroidery. Again, so happy for you!

I have mostly 50wt spools of aurifil in my collection and I have starting adding some embroidery floss lately. I would love to experiment with other weights but as a fairly new quilter I am nervous about trying them, soon I hope. I love your work and am inspired to try a small project , thank you

I have only used 50wt Aurifil neutrals for piecing. I have Lewe the Ewe growth chart and most everything for the Redbird and Berries mini...just need the right thread and I am set! I love your work and so happy for you and your new Aurifil set! Thanks for the chance to win! :)

I have never used Aurifil. It is not available in any of the stores I visit in a 100 mile radius.(A very rural part of Ohio) I love the look and would love to try it on quilting one of my applique quilts that are waiting in the closet to come into the light.

I love that your collection has weights I haven't tried. I first used 50 when introduced to it in a class at my quilt shop. At another class I purchased the monofilament and liked how it worked. I love wool applique on cotton so the 12 weight is a new one for me to try. Thanks for the information and examples too.

I have used 40 and 50 weight Aurifil thread for piecing and quilting. I would love to try the 12 weight for wool appliqué, but have not found it locally yet. I would love to try all of them. I attended a lecture about Aurifil and have been completely sold on it!

I am a relatively new Aurifil user - heard a lot about it and finally bought 5 spools of 50 wt, I love it. I can't see me using anything else for my FMQ on my domestic machine. As for weights, I have a lot of experimentation to do yet.

I regularly look at the aurifil displays at my fave fabric stores. I finger it, looking covetously at the colors I love, especially in 12wt & 50wt my two most used thread weights.

However, I then sigh dramatically (lol), cuz my Social Security Disability income really cannot stretch far enough to afford these threads I read so much about over these many years. And that I smile at/over when visiting their displays.Congrats to whomever wins!

Hi Karen! I use 50 wt all the time for machine piecing and hand applique. Gradually using up other brands by basting hexagons so I can have all Aurifil, lol. Thanks for the chance to win, and congrats on your successes.

I have never used arufill thread.. maybe this giveaway is my chance to try it! I have been looking for a new quilting thread...I have been using 50wt for everything and I think it is time to use specific weights for specific things!

At this very moment, I have Aurofil 50 weight in the bobbin of my domestic machine for quilting. The color and size blends so well with the backing, and there is no tension issue. Thanks for the opportunity. Hope I'm lucky this time!

So far, I've only used the Aurifil in 50wt, but I look forward to and have plans to use all the weights in various future projects. I Love Aurifil Thread and REALLY want to try out their newest release of 40wt 3 ply for the longarm :)

I am just figuring out the different types of thread and have read great reviews about Aurifil and look forward to ordering. I would love love love to win the sampler. I know my stitching will go easier with the right thread.

This is a wonderful Aurifil thread collection, Congratulations! I use Aurifil Wt50 for nearly all my machine piecing and a lot of quilting in many different colors. Sometimes I use Wt12 for special quilting lines, that have do stand out, for example stems of flowers in one of my latest projects.Greetings from Beate Heibutzki ( beate.heibutzki@gmx.de ) from Germany

Redbird & Berries Free Download from Craftsy

Aurifil On Sale

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FMQ Basics -- The Best by Pat Sloan

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Free Applique Template "Redbird Christmas"

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Free Class

Little Wool Blue Bird Template

Free Download: Little Wool Blue Bird Template

Teardrops of Love (PDF)

a needle turn applique tutorial

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About Me

Greeting -- you've entered Karen's Zone -- a spot where I can ramble, share, or spout. I'm a "50 something" gramma with lots of lovely little ones to brighten my day. When I'm not working full time I'm stitching or quilting or walking or just loving life with those around me. Hope you enjoy this new adventure of 2012 !